BLOSSOM MASKS

To make an inexpensive and colorful blossom mask cut out the center of a paper plate, leaving a hole large enough for the child´s face. Help the child cut flower petals from colorful construction or tissue paper. Glue the petals around the rim to make a unique flower. Attach elastic thread to the back of the plate to finish the mask.

SPONGE GARDEN

You will need:
Sponge
Bird Seed
Water
Shallow pan

Place the sponge in a shallow pan.
Sprinkle bird seed on the sponge.
Put a little bit of water in the pan.
Keep watered and watch carefully. Tiny plants will soon grow.

FUN PLACEMATS

Children can make placemats out of construction paper, stickers, magazine cut-outs, and crayons, then cover with clear self-stick shelf paper.

LITTERBUG COLLAGE

If you ever wanted to a project that would also teach your children an important ecology message than this is it!

Materials needed:
Trash
Paper
Glue
Small paper sack
If the weather is nice outside and not too windy take the kids outside and give each one a paper sack. Talk to your children about how harmful litter is and how you are going to not only make the world look better with your project, but you are going to have fun. Be sure to explain to them not to pick up anything that is sharp or that will hurt (broken glass, wires, etc.).
Take them on a litterbug walk and have them pick up the trash that they see.
When you are all done have each child glue their trash on a piece of paper...be sure to do a lot of talking about the trash they found as they do their gluing, and explain to them the importance of throwing trash away in the proper containers.

A ROUND TUIT

This makes a great Mother´s or Father´s Day present. It can be as elaborate or simple as you like!

1 round piece of wood, natural or varnished.
Paper - your choice
Decorative edged scissors
Sealer - your choice

The verse is written on the paper : edges of paper are cut round,
then the paper is glued onto the center of the wood. Apply clear
shellac or sealer of choice over entire piece. Add a hanger
to the back

"A Round Tuit" verse :
"At long last we have a sufficient quantity of these so that each person may have one of his own.
Guard it with your life. These Tuits have been hard to come by,
Especially the round ones. This is an indispensable item.
It will help you become a much more efficient worker.
For years you have been saying, "I´ll do that as soon as I get a round tuit."
Now that you have a round tuit of your very own,
All those things that have been needing to be accomplished will surely get done."

POTATO PRINT ART

Cut a potato in half and cut a shape on one of the cut ends, creating a stamp. The shape can be carved simply, or more intricately by placing gouges within the shape for more detail. Paint the shape a bright color and press it on paper as a stamp, to make a print. Several similar prints can be made with the same shape cut on the potato.

POTATO HEAD PLANT

Cut off both ends of a potato. Stand the potato upright on one of the flat cut surfaces and scoop out a hole in the other end. Carve out a face on one side of the potato. Have the children help place two cotton balls in the potato´s scooped-out top. Let them water the cotton balls and sprinkle them with grass or alfalfa seeds. Place in a sunny spot and watch his hair grow.

EGG SHELL COLLAGE

Save your broken white eggshells by rinsing them and allowing them to dry. Crush the shells and store them in a container. When you have about two dozen eggs crushed, make one or more colors of egg dye (1/2 cup hot water, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, few drops of food coloring). Dye the egg shells different colors and let them dry. Give your child a small container of glue and a q-tip. Have him paint a design on his paper with the glue. Then have him sprinkle the colored eggshells on his picture. Shake off any excess. Vary this activity by using plain white eggshells on a colored background.

MAKE YOUR OWN FAN

Using 7 Popsicle sticks
A hammer
A small sharp nail
A twist tie
Newspaper
Scissors
Heavy construction paper
Markers
White glue
1. Using the hammer and nail, make a small hole in the end of each stick.
2. Pull the twist tie through the holes of all 7 sticks. Make a neat loop with the twist tie and twist it to secure the sticks together
3. Spread the sticks out into a fan shape. Lay them flat on top of a piece of newspaper.
4. Cut a curved strip of construction paper t form the top of the fan, it should be about 4 inches high, the top about 8 inches wide and the bottom about 6 inches wide.
5. Decorate the paper with your markers.
6. Glue the construction paper to the top of the fan. Allow it to dry. Now you have a fan-tastic way to keep cool.
7. By creasing between the Popsicle sticks very carefully this fan can be folded.

SOAP CARVING SAFETY TIPS

Only children who can use a butter knife confidently should do this activity, and always with adult supervision. Using cakes of soap (Ivory works well) and butter knives, carve and whittle different masterpieces. Make a display case from a shoebox turned on its´ side.

EASY RAINBOWS

Tape three or four different colored crayons in a straight line. Show your child how to draw a rainbow with one stroke.

BACKPACK I.D. TAGS

To make these Backpack ID tags you will need:

Plastic Mesh Canvas cut into aprox. 2 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inch pieces
Plastic Lacing cut into 2 yard lengths
Clear Shrink Plastic 2 x 3 1/2 inch pieces


Ruler
Pencil
Scissors

When cutting the plastic canvas, cut to the lines leaving a smooth edge. You will need 2 pieces the same size, one being cut out in the center about 4 rows in to provide a "window" for viewing your information. Lace around the parimeter of 2 pieces of plastic canvas. Insert your information on a business card or bond paper and cover with the clear plastic pieces.

Use bright colors of canvas and lacing to make these individualized.

CORN COLLAGE

Items needed:

Yellow and green construction paper
Glue
Un-popped popcorn

Cut a "corn cob" and "husks" out of paper. Glue the "husks" around the "cob". Spread the glue on the "cob" and cover it with un-popped popcorn

GIFTWRAP YOU MAKE YOURSELF

Using a solid color shelf paper or plain brown kraft paper you can make your own gift wrap. First cut a piece of paper the proper proportions to cover your gift. The easiest way to decorate your gift wrap is to use stickers in a random pattern all over the paper. Another way to decorate your paper is to paint the paper or "stamp" it with sponge stamps. Even the youngest child can draw pictures with markers. How about using a masterpiece painting from your child?

JUICE LID CRAFTS

Lids from a frozen juice can
Any available craft supplies
( wiggle eyes yarn, magnet strips etc.)

When you open up those frozen juice cans, save the lids. They make great quick and easy crafts your little ones can easily do. Here are a few ideas you can use or let them create their own:

FOR HALLOWEEN: use orange felt. Cut It In the shape of a circle to fit inside the juice lid. Add wiggle eyes, cut out shapes for nose and mouth. Add a strip of magnet to the back, and date the back with a permanent marker to make a jack-o-lantern.

FOR NECKLACES OR MEDALS: Add glue and glitter, construction paper, ribbon, or anything else you have on hand. Place the lid on a safe surface and make a hole at the top by gently pounding a nail In the top center add ribbon or string to make the necklace. This is a great idea to make medals for special events/accomplishments in your child´s life. (I can tie my shoe, Big Sister, It´s my Birthday, I lost a tooth, etc.)

FOR CHRISTMAS: Use a permanent marker and draw a design like a Christmas tree, or candle, etc. Again using a safe surface, pound nail holes around the design, and one In the top center to hang. Hang on Christmas tree In front of a Christmas bulb and the light shines through .are just a few Ideas, but with a little imagination you will find these a great source of fun.

CRAFT CREATION: SIMPLE BIRD FEEDER

How many different types of birds do your children know? Create this simple bird feeder. Then watch the birds come and go from your bird feeder. Teach your kids about the bird´s habits.

To create this bird feeder you will need:
1 - Milk or juice carton
A straight twig, dowel, or strong straw
String
Birdseed
Pair of scissors

1. Take the milk or juice carton and cut two large rectangles out of opposite sides. It will look like the carton has two "windows".
2. Next make a hole under each rectangle and poke a twig or dowel straight through the carton to create two bird perches for your simple bird feeder.
3. Now make a small hole in the top of the milk or juice carton and attach a string so that your feeder will hang from a branch or wherever you want to hang it.
4. Now you are ready to decorate your bird feeder! When you are finished decorating, let the Birdfeeder dry, fill it full with birdseed and hang it outside near a window.

SEED MOSAICS PICTURES

cardboard
glue
seeds: corn /bean / dill / squash /peas /lentils
Sort each seed type into its own bowl or saucer. Start by spreading glue on a small area of the cardboard. Then set seeds into the glue, making your own arrangement. You might want to arrange the seeds into different patterns, by colors or by shapes also!

ONE LEAF PICTURE

Leaves
Paper
Crayons or markers
Glue

Glue one leaf onto the center of the paper. Use the leaf as the body; draw head arms, legs, ect. Be creative and make anything you want!

MAKE A WINDSOCK

You will need a 9 x 12-inch piece of card stock, construction paper of craft foam for the base. I find the craft foam lasts the longest and can be kept outside longer. You also need crepe paper streamers. Use a variety of colors for bright windsocks. Now the construction is simple! All you do is staple the 9 x 12-inch base top to bottom forming a tube. Then staple streamers (about 10 - 14 inches in length) to one end of the tube. Decorating your windsock is fun, use stickers, sequins, puffy paint or whatever you like! Finally attach a piece of string about 20 inches long to the opposite end. We hang ours from the tree outside and watch the wind blow!

WAX PAPER

Consider using a sheet of wax paper as a placemat when working with clay or paint. Quick and easy clean up!

FUN BUBBLE ART

Try adding food coloring to your bubble mixture, then blow your bubbles through your wand. The children then try to catch the
bubbles with a piece of white construction paper, (cut into any shape you wish). This makes a beautiful design. Just make sure the children are wearing smocks, because sometimes the bubbles land on them. And because of the food coloring it will stain their clothing.

GHOSTS

For a trick-or-treater ghost, craft a stick figure from pipe cleaners. Drape a white tissue over the body and then use your fingers to scrunch and shape. Draw on eyes and a mouth.

SNOW GLOBE FROM BABY FOOD JARS

After cleaning the baby food jar and removing the paper from the outside, glue a small ornament, or toy on the inside of the cap with epoxy. (Hot glue works but may not hold more than a few days in the water.) Then fill the jar with a light colored oil, like mineral oil. Add a few pinches of glitter and put the lid on. Secure the lid tightly with plumbing tape or electrical tape so it will not leak. Turn it upside down with the lid on the bottom and you have a snow globe to enjoy!

STAINED GLASS HEARTS

Make stained glass hearts by placing red, pink and white crayon shavings between two pieces of wax paper. Cover with newspaper and press a warm iron to melt the crayon chips. Allow to cool completely. Cut heart shape from center of construction paper and tape waxed paper behind heart-shaped hole. Or, cut the "stained glass" into a heart shape. Attach string to create mobile.

PAPERWEIGHT GIFT

Find a rock with a flat side.
Glue a clothespin to the rock, letting dry overnight.
Decorate the clothespin and rock with small shells or pebbles.

EGG CARTON BELLS

Make these simple bells from egg cartons. Cut apart the sections of an egg carton. Have the kids paint them, or use the white Styrofoam kind of egg carton. You can make them sparkle by sprinkling glitter on the wet paint or painting with watered down glue and then sprinkling some glitter on. Attach a tiny bell to a pipe cleaner and insert it up through the center of the egg carton section. Bend the top of the pipe cleaner to make a hanger for the ornament.

VOTIVE CANDLES

Baby food jars or jam jars
Scraps of tissue paper
Diluted paste or glue
Votive candles
Clean the jars well and let dry. We use small jars, and sometimes have to check the size of the votive candle to make sure it will fit. Have the children brush the glue onto the jar and place different colors of tissue paper over the glue, overlapping so the entire jar is covered on the outside. The glue will appear to be white but will dry clear and when a candle is lit inside will give off a pretty color and design. Great for gift time, Mother´s Day (use Mom´s favorite colors, Christmas use red and green, etc.)

CLOTHESPIN SAILBOAT

-Spring type clothespins
-Toothpicks
-White paper
-Wood Glue
-Scissors
-Markers

1. Remove the hinges from the clothespins.

2. Cut a 2 1/2 in. square of paper.

3. Glue the flat pieces of the clothespins together, leaving a hole at one end.

4. Insert the toothpick into the paper forming a "sail".

5. Put glue into the hole and inset the toothpick, and let dry.

Once dry your ready to sail.

CRAYON & WAX PAPER SUN CATCHERS

Make a crayon sun catcher! Using a small pencil sharpener, shave crayons onto a sheet of wax paper. Fold the wax paper in half, covering all the shavings. Press with a warm iron until the crayon shavings melt. When cool, you can cut the wax paper into various shapes then, thread string through the top of the wax paper and hang in a window.

Be sure an adult supervises this activity.

FROSTY PICTURES

Have your child draw a winter outdoor scene on a piece of construction paper. Make a solution of half Epsom salts and half water. Let her paint over her picture with this mixture. As it dries, she will notice sparkling crystals begin to form.

TORN PAPER RAINBOWS

Apply glue onto a piece of paper where the first color of the rainbow should be, you can make a half or full arc. Have your child apply red torn paper to the glued area. Next apply glue under the red torn paper for the next color, and so on! (You will only be able to do three or four colors).

PUSSY WILLOW THUMB PRINTS

To make Pussy Willows:

White tempera paint
Dark construction paper
Markers

Draw a branch on a piece of dark construction paper. Give your child a small container of white paint. Have her dip one finger into the paint and make a print on the branch. Have her repeat this process until her branches resemble white pussy willows. Vary this activity by using light colored construction paper and pink paint to make cherry blossoms.

APPLE CANDLEHOLDERS

Take a round cookie cutter (small) get some apples, with your cookie cutter push it into the top of the apple go down into the apple the size of votive candle. Don´t forget to rub some lemon juice where you scooped out the apple. Scoop out the apple and place your candle in it. Float a couple of them in a nice bowl.

GARDEN IN A JAR

Baby-food jar with lid
Small dried or silk flowers
Rolling pin
Craft or hot glue
Play dough
Making the ´garden´ - Roll out play dough with a rolling pin. Use the mouth of the jar as a
cookie cutter (if you use the lid, you can´t close the jar). Hot glue (adults only) the play dough into the lid and wait about 10 seconds. Have the kids stick flowers into the dough. Leave lids on a cookie sheet to dry over night. When the play dough is dry, screw on the lid carefully. You can write a name on the jar with glitter or decorate any way you want.

ROCK PAINTING

One of the simplest and most inexpensive paint projects is in your own backyard. Painting rocks is an activity that can be as simple or elaborate as you would like it to get. Go with a theme like making zoo animals or people in your neighborhood. Glue on jiggle eyes or yarn hair. These make good paperweights for gifts too! Why not make Grandpa a large rock for holding his fence open?(you´ll need to use outdoor paint for this one though)

EGG CARTON BUGS

To make these spiders you will need:
Egg carton bottoms
Pipe cleaners
Scissors and markers
Cut apart the egg carton and give one cup to each child. Have the children draw a silly spider face on their cup and insert pipe cleaners to make eight legs. Use the spiders to act out "Little Miss Muffet" or when you sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider".

Vary this craft by making ladybugs, caterpillars or ants.

SHAVING CREAM ART

Add a few drops of paint to shaving cream. Have the children use this to paint with. Not mixing the paint in will give it a special look.

CRAFTSTICK SNOWMAN

2 Jumbo craft sticks
1 Toothpick
Snow Paint
Black Felt
Yarn remnant
Cut one of the craft sticks in half on an angle, to make arms. Glue arms to back of the whole craft stick. Paint snowman with white snow paint EXCEPT about ¾ of an inch from the top of whole craft stick. Paint this ¾ inch black (for hat) Dot eyes mouth and buttons black. Cut ½" off end of toothpick and paint orange, glue in place for nose. Cut small piece of felt for hat brim. Glue to edge of black paint on snowman´s head. Twist four pieces of yarn together for scarf and tie around snowman´s neck. Repeat and tie around hat. Use a length of yarn for loop to hang your snowman.

ENVIRONMENT COLLAGES

Let the kids cut out magazine pictures of trees, flowers, birds, sun, clouds, etc. Have them glue them on sheets of newspaper to make a collage about their environment. Talk about the world they live in and how we can help take care of the trees and birds.
Older children may want to cut out pictures of recyclable materials and "sort" them into the different recycle categories. Discuss just what is recyclable and where these materials go and how they are re-used.

TERRARIUMS

Give your child two clear plastic glasses. Have her fill one glass halfway with soil. Then have her plant weeds or small plants in her soil glass and add a little water. Let her decorate her glass with stones or wood chips. Place a second glass on top of her soil glass and tape or glue the two glasses together to make a terrarium. Explain to her how the water evaporates then condenses and finally rains down on her plants in the self-watering terrarium.

COOKIE CUTTER STAMPING

Put a small amount of tempera paint in a pie tin. Show your kids how to dip the cookie cutter in the paint and press onto a piece of paper to create a print. You can make holiday pictures or greeting cards by using holiday cookie cutters, and colored paper. when the outlines are dry have the kids color them in.

DRIED FLOWERS

When your kids are out in the field and bring you home a handful of wildflowers, why not show them how easy it is to dry them for a semi-permanent flower arrangement? Simply gather the stems together with an elastic band and hang them upside down in a warm dry area for a week or so. Some flowers dry better than others but some trial and error will soon get you a bunch of dried flowers for a special arrangement.

HOW TO GET SAP OFF YOUR HANDS

Sap is the name for that sticky stuff that comes out of trees after you´ve cut them. This is the tree´s "blood", and it comes out to the surface of the tree when there´s been a cut to patch it up until it heals, and to keep out any harmful insects (such as carpenter ants) or bacteria. If you´ve been helping dad cut trees, and some sap has gotten on your hands, there is a simple and easy way to get it off (note: soap and water doesn´t work very well). Simply pour some cooking oil into a container big enough to fit your hands, then dip in any hand or foot with sap on it and voila! The cooking oil will remove the sap.

STAINED GLASS CIRCLES

Black heavy paper
Colored cellophane wrap
Glue
Hole punch
String
Cut a 6" circle from the black tag board. Then have an adult use an Exact-o knife and cut out a pattern on the circle making sure to leave a grid to attach the cellophane to. Pop out all the shapes that were cut out. Take the shapes that were cut out and use them for a pattern to cut out the colored cellophane. Make sure to cut bit larger than the black shape to leave enough to glue to the circle. After you have all the cellophane pieces cut, glue them to the back of the circle into the corresponding places. You may wish to make this easier for young children and simple cut the cellophane into a 6" circle. Only use one color for their stained glass circle. That way they only have one piece of cellophane to glue on. Punch a hole at the top of the circle and attach string to hang in a sunny window!

KOOL-AID ART

Sprinkle a little dry Kool-Aid mix onto a piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has Kool-Aid on it.

TOOTHPICK TREES

Have the children make a tree by gluing toothpicks on a piece of paper.
Use a sponge and green tempera paint to add leaves to the top of the tree.

60 SECOND HAT

Easiest with 2 people. Ages 8 & up.

You need:

Large piece of paper such as gift wrap or newspaper.
Masking Tape
Ball or Bucket
Instructions

Place paper centered over ball or upside-down bucket. Press paper with hands around bucket or top half of ball to shape. Hold in place while second person wraps large pieces of tape around to make hat band. Remove from ball or bucket. Decorate.
Use a sand bucket and newspaper; paint it black and adorn with a foil buckle for a pilgrim´s hat. Bright gift wrap and a paper flower will make a great clown´s hat.
Use a 9" playground ball, fancy gift wrap, and silk flowers for tea party attire. Brown kraft mailing paper for a hobo´s hat.

GIFT WRAP

Let your kids wrap their gifts themselves. Some people use tissue paper for this, but it is difficult to keep it from ripping for small hands. I buy butcher paper (you can get it in white too) or table covering paper and they decorate their own paper according to the occasion. Using stamps water colors, crayons and markers, some of these wrapping papers are absolutely beautiful!

DECORATED PAINTER HATS

Many paint stores include the cotton painter´s cap with a purchase of paint. Even if you aren´t planning to paint in the near future you can buy these hats very inexpensively, often under a dollar. These hats are great for the kids to decorate for a Crazy Hat Day, or even as an activity at a Birthday party. Use sequins, feathers, beads, buttons and fabric crayons and paints to dress them up. Party goers may want to sign each others hats, making them a momento worth keeping.

PASTA ANGEL

Rigatoni pasta
elbow pasta
wooden or Styrofoam 1" ball
shredded coconut (for hair)
bow tie pasta-for wings
white spray paint
Glue the 1" ball on top of rigatoni. Glue the tiny pasta on the ball (use tacky glue). Glue two elbow pastas for arms coming toward each other in front of angel. Add bow pasta in back for wings. Paint white. Can add facial features if desired. Glue coconut to head for hair, maybe even add a halo of wire. Add a ribbon to hang it with.

SIMPLE DREAM CATCHERS

Strong Paper Plate
String or Yarn
Beads
Crayons or paint.
Paper Punch
Cut out the center of the plate to make a ring shape. Then decorate your hoop- either paint it or color it with markers or crayons. Then use a paper punch to make 13 holes around the outside(you will want an uneven number of holes), Now have the kids weave the string through the holes while putting on beads. I use large beads with the younger kids and wrap tape around the end of the string (or dip the string in glue and let dry) to help them guide it through the beads. Older kids can put beads on that have something to do with a dream they once had. Such as favorite color, birthstone, ideas like that. They also shared their dream catchers by sharing what the beads stood for. Continue until you have woven all the holes. We left two strings hanging off the side and put beads on them as well, for decoration. Hang on the wall or in a window.

MARBLE ART

This is a quick art activity that is lots of fun and has great results. You will need a container such as an aluminum pie plate or shoebox. The only characteristic it really needs is sides of 1 inch or more. Cut a sheet of paper to fit on the bottom of the container. Have your child select one or two colors of paint and squirt a teaspoon of each color on the paper in the container. Now comes the fun part. Have you ever painted with marbles before? Well put a marble in the container and wiggle it and roll it. Watch your design grow. No two patterns will be alike.

EASY PLACEMATS

Try making your own placemats.
Cut two identical placemat-size rectangles out of clear self-stick paper. Remove the backing form one of the rectangles. Help your son arrange pictures from magazines or catalogues on the sticky side of the paper. Add sparkle by sprinkling on glitter. Remove the backing from the other rectangle and carefully place it sticky side down over the decorated rectangle. Trim off any overhanging sections.

FUN FINGER PUPPETS

Felt
Small wiggle eyes
Yarn scraps
Feathers
Pom-poms
Craft glue
Instructions:
1. Trace a 2-inch by 1 ½ inch rectangle onto felt. Round the top of the triangle for the top of the puppet
2. Glue the sides and the top rounded area to complete the "blank" finger puppet
3. Allow the children to glue the wiggle eyes on, glue feathers or yarn for hair and pom-poms for ears and/or tail
SUGGESTIONS: These puppets are very easy to draw freehand or you can use small patterns from coloring books as well! Perhaps you could make a bunny for Easter or if you are reading about bears, dinosaurs or whatever use that idea and make a pattern to go along with the applicable theme!

TEXTURE PAINTING

Provides a tactile experience.
Add any of the following to tempera paint to give texture:
sawdust, salt, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds

MESH BAG DAUBING PRINTS

Plastic mesh bags (the kind onions come in)
Foam, old nylons, or fabric scraps
Paint
Old Sponges
Paper
Make mesh daubers by filling mesh squares with foam, old nylons, etc. Tie off with string or rubber bands. Spread thin coat of paint on top of old sponges to make "ink pad". Press the dauber onto the paint covered sponge. Print
with the daubers on paper.

AUTUMN LIGHTS

Have your child select an oatmeal box lid and cut two sheets of wax paper (each the same size) to fit around the outside of the lid. The lid is the bottom of the lantern, the wax paper will form the cylindrical sides. Arrange pressed leaves on one sheet of wax paper. Cover the leaves with the second piece of wax paper and, using a warm (not hot) iron, press the wax paper, melting the wax and ironing the leaves between the sheets of paper.

Glue a one-inch strip of fall colored construction paper along the top of the wax paper to reinforce the top so that a handle can be added. Glue the bottom edge of the wax paper to the outside of the box lid. Do this by running a bead of glue all along the outside of the box lid. Then roll the lid along the bottom edge of the wax paper, forming the cylinder as you roll.

You may add a finishing strip of construction paper along this bottom edge. Put several dabs of glue along the overlapping edges of the wax paper sides to close the cylinder. Attach a 1/2-inch-wide, 12- to 15-inch-long handle using paper fasteners. Place a loop of masking tape in the bottom of the lantern and add a votive candle or tea light. (If a candle is used, the lantern must be supervised at all times. Using only outdoors might be the safest idea.)

PINATAS

Make your own Pinata! Made a few days before the party you can put in it what you wish (great for children that may have allergies to peanuts or if you wish to limit the amount of candy).
You´ll need:
Large balloon Blow it up and tie the end to a table.
Paste Mix 1 cup flour with 2 cuups water in a bowl.
Newspaper Rip or cut into strips 1 to 2 inches wide.
Masking tape
String Several long pieces. (cotton works well)
Decorating materials paint, stickers, crepe paper, construction
paper, ribbon. Use your imagination.

Spread a few newspaper sheets around the ballon to keep the table clean.
Dip the newspaper strips into the paste one by one.
Run your fingers down each strip to remove extra paste.
Start wrapping the strips around the balloon, leaving an empty space at the neck about 3 inches in diameter.
First layer strips up and down.
Then layer strips around the balloon.

Let the pinata dry for 3 days and pop the balloon.
Decorate the pinata and put the treats inside through the hole.
(raisins, wrapped candies, small toys, lollipops)
Now tape the ends of each piece of string inside the hole
Reinforce each piece with tape several times.
Decorate as you wish. You can make faces, animals or an object. With a little imagination the Pinata will be the "hit" of the party.

To play the pinata game... you will need a bat and a blindfold. Hang the pinata over the players heads.
Make sure everyone is standing well away from the player and the pinata.

DESIGNER BIKE

Spruce up your bike by tying streamers or ribbons to the handlebars or weaving them through the spokes. Try sticking colorful stickers or tape strips onto the frames and fenders. To make a clatter noise as you child rides, clothespin a playing card to the rear fender brace, with the tip of the card between the spokes.

SUPER TEACHER GIFT

Fill a small basket, gift bag or mug with apples and chocolate Hershey Hugs and Kisses. Tie on a gift tag with the following:
A teacher cannot live by apples alone,
She needs "Hugs" and "Kisses" too!!
or
Apple Anything - (Pie, Cobbler, crisp, muffins etc.) With a note attached. "Sending you a "Bushel" of love this holiday Season!" Or " You are the apple of my eye, Teacher!"

PAPER BEAD NECKLACE

Paper cut into triangles (gift wrap is good)
scissors
Round toothpicks or straws
Elmer´s glue
paint brushes
needle and dental floss
Start with strips of paper about 8 inches long and wider at one end than the other, like a long narrow triangle with the point cut off. Notice that one end of the strip is narrower than the other. (This is the point of the triangle or the narrower of the two ends.) Starting at the narrow end, put glue on the first inch of the strip. Now find the wider end of the strip of paper. Starting from there, roll the strip around a toothpick. Roll as straight and as tightly as you can. You will notice that the edge of the paper will go in on either side as you roll. Secure the end of the strip with the glue. Carefully slide the bead off the toothpick, and let dry. String the beads on a length of dental floss (it will not break as easily as string).

MAKE YOUR OWN FELT PURSE

Create a little purse to play dress up with or to store your favorite trinkets. This is a great first sewing project for kids.
You will need
Felt
Paper or cardboard for pattern
Pencil
Needle and thread
2 feet heavy cord
Glitter glue - optional to decorate

Draw a purse shape on paper or cardboard. A basic circle or square is fine. Make it about 5" across. Cut out the shape to use a pattern. Trace the pattern on two pieces of felt Lay the two pieces together and pin at the sides. Lay the cord on the shape placing one end at the center bottom of the purse. Follow along the edges with the cord, leaving a loop at the top for a handle and overlapping the cord at the bottom center. Sew the hearts together at the pointed end and along the sides. Do not sew them together at the top leaving an opening for your treasures. You can decorate your bag with glitter glue, or glue on bits of felt, string or beads.

BINGO DAUBER ART

The bingo dauber is a great little art supply for kids. They are very inexpensive , usually available in your local dollar store. Younger children can daub paper and connect the dots. You can cut Easter eggs, or Christmas trees from colored paper and a child as young as 15 months will enjoy decorating it with a few daubers of different colors. You will find that most of these daubers are refillable too.

SPONGE PAINTING

Use spring type clothespins pinched to the sponge for sponge painting.

LADYBUG FUN

2 paper plates
Black and red poster paint
Black and white construction paper
Black felt pen
Staples or paper fastener
Sponge cut in a 1" circle

Cut one paper plate in half. Have your child paint the back of the whole paper plate black. Have her paint the back of both halves red. Take the round sponge and blot circles with black paint onto the two half pieces for the lady bugs spots. Allow to dry. Attach both halfs at the top of the back of black plate to form wings. Draw head and antennae from construction paper and attach to top of ladybug, (can be fastened at same time as wings) You can also use black pipe cleaners for the antennas. Cut round white circles for eyes and use felt pen to color in middle for pupil. (can use wiggle eyes instead) Hang up side down to make the ladybug appear to be flying.

RAG BRACELET

With some scrap fabric, your child can make a Rag Bracelet.
Scrap fabric
Pony beads or wooden beads with larger holes.

Cut three strips of fabric about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and as long as needed to wrap the wrist at least twice. You can use strips of the same fabric or mix and match. Tie a knot at one end with all three strips leaving a little "fringe". Tie two of the fringe pieces around a knob or chair leg to hold while you work. Now twist a piece of tape around the ends of the long strips so they look like shoelace ends. Now start braiding the strips together.

Start to add in while braiding your choice of beads, bells, buttons or shells with holes in them (what ever you want, just make sure the holes are big enough to thread). Continue until you have the length you need for a bracelet (or anklet, or necklace). Then tie a second knot securing the three ends together. Leave a little fringe again and cut the remaining. Remove from the chair leg and take one strip from each end and tie together tightly.

You can do this while around the wrist so it won´t come off or make it big enough to slip on and off. Now either trim it up or leave some fringe and it´s done.

SAND CANDLES

You need
A small shovel
String about 10 inches long
A short stick
A small stone
Old crayons or candle stubs
A clean, empty coffee or apple-juice can
An heavy pot
Water
1. Dig a hole in the sand about 4 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep.
2. Tie one end of the string to the middle of the stick. Attach the stone to the other end of the string.
3. Under adult supervision melt the crayons and candles. Half fill the large can with candle and crayon stubs. Place the can in the pot.
4. Half fill the pot with warm water, and bring to a boil. The wax will take about 20 minutes to melt. As the wax melts you can add more crayons and candles. The wax should never be more than half filling the tin.
5. Using a potholder, remove the pot and carry the melted wax in the can to the sand hole.
6. Carefully pour the melted wax into the hole in the sand and lower the string into the middle of the wax with the rock weighing it down.
7. Allow the wax to cool and harden. (This will take about 6 to 8 hours.
8. Gently ease any sand away from the top rim of the hardened candle and lift the candle out of the hole.

PASTING INSPIRATION

Kids love pasting, they will cut and paste for hours given a magazine and some paper. Glue sticks (both the liquid and solid form) are great for the beginner artist. Of course they can glue pictures on paper but graduate them to using paper plates, cardboard, old greeting cards, yarn, buttons, cotton balls, sand and sawdust. Try letting them experiment with pasting tissue paper, wallpaper, small food items such as shreddies, puffed wheat, macaroni, rice, beans, lentils.

EASY OCTOPUS ART

For each child draw seven 5 1/2-inch lines up from the long side of a piece of construction paper. Have the children cut along the lines on their papers to make octopus arms. When they have finished, roll each paper and tape the sides of the body together, leaving the arms free. Let the children attach self-stick circles for eyes. Then have them bend their octopus arms outward..
Hang the finished products from a string or pin up.

STICKER ART

For a very simple art project, supply the children with a piece of paper and stickers. For younger children this provides an excellent fine
motor activity. Use a binder to keep the pages of sticker art together, a great first collection!

BIRD NESTS

To make these simple bird´s nests you will need:

paper lunch bags
dried grass, leaves and twigs
markers, paint
plastic eggs or play dough

Ask your child what materials he thinks birds use to construct their nests. Then give them each a brown paper lunch bag.

Help them roll the sides down and form it into a nest shape. Now take them exploring outside for nesting materials such as dried grass, leaves, tiny twigs, feathers, etc.

Have them arrange these in their nests, explaining how the birds use their beaks and feet to make their nests. Let them decorate the outside of the nests with markers or paint.

Then give each child a plastic egg or some play dough and have them make an egg to place in their nests. Talk about how the nest protects the egg and keeps it warm until it is time for it to hatch.

PIPE CLEANER PEOPLE

Using only 3 pipe cleaners it´s fun to make pipe cleaner people! One pipe cleaner is used for the body and the head. (You can use a bead for the head if your child is over 3 years old). One is used for the legs, and one for the arms. It´s easy to shape these little people into different positions!

POTATO PRINTS

Cut a large potato in half. You will need a cookie cutter that will fit on the potato half. Press the cookie cutter into the flat side of the potato. Then, using a knife cut the potato around the outside of the cookie cutter, leaving a shaped potato stamp. Supply the children with the potato stamps, different colored paints, and paper. Have the children dip the potatoes in the paint and press them firmly onto the paper. If the potatoes are not cut evenly the shapes will not appear clearly.

CUPCAKE FLOWERS

Cupcake papers, (for a holiday such as Valentine´s Day, you could use papers with themes on them)
Pipe cleaners,
Green construction paper.
Take a cupcake paper and pinch the bottom of it. Then take a pipe cleaner and
wrap it around the pinched area. Cut some leaves out of green paper and add
them to the pipe cleaner.
Put some play dough in a baby food jar and have the children place
the flowers in the jar like it was a vase. When the play dough dries they should
stand nice. You can also decorate some tissue paper to cover the outside of
the bottle.

FLOATING CHALK ART

Fill a dishpan with water. Help your child grate colored chalk into powder and sprinkle a little powder on top of the water in the dishpan. Have your child gently place pieces of paper on top of the sprinkled chalk, one at a time. Carefully lift each paper piece out of the water and place it on a flat surface to dry. There will be a pretty marbled design on their paper.

SNOWY JARS II

You will need:

Waxed paper
Small glass or plastic jars (baby food jars or jelly jars work well)
Water

Have the children tear tiny pieces of waxed paper and place them in small jars. Help them fill the jars with water and secure the lids. Let them shake their snow jars and watch the "snowflakes" dance around.

To make into snow scene jars, put clay in each jar lid and attach two small Styrofoam balls (held together with a toothpick). When the lids are screwed on and the jars are turned upside down, the snowflakes dance around the snowmen.

DRIP-DYE FLAGS

Plain paper towels (not colored or printed on)
Muffin tins
Food Coloring
newspaper
Unsharpened Pencils
Tape

Pour watered down food coloring in muffin tins. Fold a white paper towel into a small square or triangle. Dip the corners in the food coloring and watch the paper absorb the liquid. If you like, try to blend colors. You could dye your flag by using an eyedropper, too. Unfold the paper towel carefully and lay it on newspaper to dry. When they are dry attach them to dowel rods or unsharpened pencils with tape.

TRANSPORTING YOUR CHILD´S ARTWORK

If you find you have something you want to transport without wrinkling, like a special painting from your child to Grandpa, this tip will come in handy. Decorate a paper towel tube with paint, markers, glitter, stickers, construction paper and crayons. This becomes a colorful carrying tube. Roll their pictures up and put inside to take to their teacher, grandparents, friends, or relatives. This also works to get homework "projects" back to school in mint condition.

KALEIDOSCOPE

A kaleidoscope is just a hollow tube with mirrors lining its inside. You then put something pretty at one end and your eye at the other. The nicest and easiest kaleidoscope I´ve found is this one. It is not very likely that a child would be able to make this on his/her own, so plan on making it together. When it is done be sure to decorate the outside of the Pringles can and make it personal.
1 Pringles can.
12"x12" mirror tile. cut into 3 pieces.... 2 3/8" x 8 1/2" .
You´ll also need a 3" square of clear plastic [I used a piece from a lg. Soda bottle]. Corrugated cardboard - 1" x 9".
Beads, sequins and baubles
1. Carefully punch a hole in the middle of the metal end of the can. This will be where you look into the kaleidoscope, so be sure to punch from the outside of the can to the inside so that any sharp edges will be in the can!
2. Arrange the mirrors into a triangle [with the mirror sides facing each other] I bought a mirror tile from the hardware store. It was reasonably priced and he even cut the pieces for me!
3. Trace the end of the can onto the plastic and cut it a little smaller to just fit over the top of the mirrors.
4. Trim the cardboard collar to fit snugly around the inside of the can to hold the plastic in place.
Put in your baubles, put on the lid, and enjoy your new kaleidoscope!

CLOTHESPIN ANGEL

1 4" peg clothespin
1 3/4" wooden ball for head
1 yd. 4" wide lace cut into 2 18" pieces (you can use white crepe paper)
1/2 yd. 1 1/2-2" lace cut into 2 pieces (you can use trim of felt for this)
Place the 2 pieces of 4" wide lace on top of each other. Gather top, pull thread tight leaving a small hole. Knot. This is the dress. Slip dress onto round part of clothespin, glue. Glue ball on top. For the wings, join each piece of 1 1/2" lace with glue to make a tube. Overlap the 2 pieces in the center, gather up the middle, wrap thread around and tie tightly. Glue wings onto dress just below the head. Make a halo by forming a small circle from a piece of shiny pipe cleaner. Tie a piece of thread or ribbon through this for a hanger and then glue halo on to head. Decorate with ribbons, etc.

SHAPE ART

Give the children a piece of white paper, and a number of various shapes. Have them glue the shapes onto the paper in the form of animals or people.

PUNCHED PICTURES

Have your child create a one of a kind picture. Take a piece of construction paper and secure it to a piece of Styrofoam with elastics. Give her a hammer and a nail and have her punch holes in the paper to form a design. When finished take the picture off the block of Styrofoam and hold it up to a window to see the design.